Home for the Holidays

Next week most schools will be letting out for the Winter Break.  Many college students have already started to arrive home.  Some families will huddle in against the cold,while others will travel or plan activities to keep from driving each other crazy.  No matter what the plans, parents will have lots of time with kids in an environment often designed to promote closeness.

With so much time together, remember that this is a great time to talk about the future. What kinds of plans have been developing since last you talked?  What kind of future do your kids (young and older) look forward to, or worry about?  Do they have career plans, or family plans, or gap year plans?  Do they have no plans, and look forward to finding out what the future holds in store?  Do they worry that they have no plans, and don't look forward to the future? 

These are great conversations to have, without any real pressure, and without knowing the answers. Let the talk flow with no agenda.  Kids want their parents to wonder about them.  They want their parents to ask, sometimes directly, sometimes indirectly.  You can talk without probing.  You can ask and you can muse. You can share your hopes and dreams for yourself -- and for them.  If it gets tense, back off this time.  You can always bring up a topic later in a different way.  Click here for some ideas of ways to ease into a conversation.

Here's hoping that all of your winter holidays look a little like Norman Rockwell and a little like School of Rock. 

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